Next AFET Meeting

Kohokohdat

Exchange of views with Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

26-03-2015 - 16:23

On 30 March the AFET Committee and SEDE Subcommittee will hold an exchange of views with Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General. After this exchange of views AFET and SEDE MEPs will have a debate with Gilles de Kerchove, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. On the same day Members of the AFET Committee will hold the first consideration of the own-initiative report "The security challenges in the MENA region and the prospects for political stability", Rapporteur: Vincent Peillon (S&D).

AFET delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan

25-03-2015 - 15:52

Last 19 and 20 of March, Mr Afzal Khan chaired the AFET delegation to the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan (Erbil) with the aim to discuss the relations between the Iraqi federal and Kurdish regional governments (especially on the negotiations for oil sharing), the fight against ISIS/ Da'esh, the humanitarian and human rights situation (especially ethnic and religious minorities) and the overall regional context. Members held meetings with authorities of the Kurdish Regional Government, including the President (Mr Masoud Barzani), the Prime Minister (Mr Nechirvan Barzani), the deputy speaker of the Kurdish parliament (Mr Jaafar Eminiki), as well as the Ministers of Interior, Peshmerga Affairs, Planning and Natural Resources. Members also visited Baharka refugee camp and held meetings with ethnic and religious minorities.

AFET Exchange of views on draft report on the state of EU-Russia Relations

23-03-2015 - 11:04

On 23 March the AFET committee held a first exchange of views on its draft report on the state of EU-Russia relations (Rapporteur: Gabrielius Landsbergis). The report considers the EU's policy options vis-à-vis Russia following the recent developments in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood.

Delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Elmar Brok meets with the President of the Republic of Turkey

19-03-2015 - 09:14

A delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, chaired by Mr Elmar Brok, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, met on 18 March 2015 with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of the Republic of Turkey. The meeting took place in a very cordial and constructive atmosphere. The Members of the European Parliament and the President of the Republic discussed the complex security situation in the Middle East and the value of foreign policy dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Turkey. The EU and Turkey should also further cooperate on energy. This would reinforce both the EU and Turkey's energy security and diversity of energy sources. The EU and Turkey together can address the shortcomings of the Customs Union. The concerns of Turkey on the impact on its economy of FreeTrade Agreements concluded by the EU with third countries should also be addressed. Now that the Readmission Agreement between the EU and Turkey is in place, dialogue on visa liberalisation should advance. The delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs discussed the accession process and other issues of common interest between EU and Turkey. Mr Brok stressed the importance of developing EU-Turkey relations further and promoting constructive dialogue on issues of common concern.

AFET´s delegation to Turkey

18-03-2015 - 12:06

A delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Elmar Brok, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, met with Ahmet Davutoğlu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, on 17 March 2015. During the meeting Mr Brok and the Prime Minister discussed the value of foreign policy dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Turkey, with particular reference to stability and security in the region and the threat of radicalism. Mr Brok stressed the continuous commitment by Turkey in delivering assistance to the large refugee population in Turkey. Further cooperation in fields such as energy security, the upgrade of the Customs Union and the development of EU-Turkey Relations were also discussed. The importance of the Kurdish peace process was also emphasised.

Tuoreimmat lehdistötiedotteet

The EU's new eastern partnership policy should boost cooperation with its eastern neighbourhood countries to reduce both parties’ energy dependence on Russia, said MEPs and MPs from eastern partnership countries at the fourth Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, which closed in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday. The Assembly’s resolutions also call for more trade coordination, solidarity with Ukraine to counter Russian aggression there and an official recognition of the Armenian genocide 100 years ago.
(Lue lisää)

The EU and its member states must shoulder more responsibility for their security and defence at once, given the unprecedented levels of instability at EU borders, say Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs in a resolution voted on Monday. Member states must, as a matter of urgency, make more effective use of Common Security and Defence Policy tools, coordinate their internal and external security actions and pool resources more closely, says the text.
(Lue lisää)